US4303743A - Air depolarized cell with a gelled electrolyte - Google Patents

Air depolarized cell with a gelled electrolyte Download PDF

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Publication number
US4303743A
US4303743A US06/217,035 US21703580A US4303743A US 4303743 A US4303743 A US 4303743A US 21703580 A US21703580 A US 21703580A US 4303743 A US4303743 A US 4303743A
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electrolyte
plate
expansion space
cell
negative electrode
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Expired - Fee Related
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US06/217,035
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English (en)
Inventor
Jean-Marie Reau
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Gipelec SA
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Gipelec SA
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
    • H01M12/00—Hybrid cells; Manufacture thereof
    • H01M12/04—Hybrid cells; Manufacture thereof composed of a half-cell of the fuel-cell type and of a half-cell of the primary-cell type
    • H01M12/06—Hybrid cells; Manufacture thereof composed of a half-cell of the fuel-cell type and of a half-cell of the primary-cell type with one metallic and one gaseous electrode

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an air-depolarized cell with a gelled electrolyte. It is applicable more particularly to alkaline cells of this type, but it can also be used in air-depolarized saline cells.
  • U.S. Pat. No. 3,840,406 discloses a negative electrode covered with a layer of electrolytic gel which protects it from the air contained in an expansion chamber provided in the upper portion of the cell to compensate for the increase in volume of the negative electrode during discharge.
  • the oxygen in said space becomes dissolved in the electrolyte and comes into contact with the anode active material. It is therefore important that said space does not communicate with the outside, and steps have been taken to this effect in U.S. Pat. No. 4,214,044.
  • These steps consist in limiting the space in consideration on the positive electrode side (and hence on the air intake side) by means of an air-tight wall.
  • Preferred embodiments of the present invention remedy this drawback.
  • the present invention provides an air depolarized cell with a gelled electrolyte, said cell including a positive electrode, a negative electrode and an expansion space, the gelled electrolyte being disposed between the two electrodes firstly in contact with their electrochemical exchange surfaces and secondly between the negative electrode and the expansion space, the surface of the electrolyte in the expansion space being partially covered with a plate which exerts a pressure on the electrolyte, thereby pressing the electrolyte closely against the surfaces of the electrodes.
  • the surface area of said uncovered part is equal to 5% to 40% of the electrolyte's surface area in the expansion space.
  • a plurality of slots may be provided in the plate, in which case the plate may cover the whole surface of the electrolyte except for where there are slots, or else it may leave an uncovered border between its edges and the walls of the cell on the negative electrode side.
  • the plate must be fixed by any suitable means to the walls of the expansion space which are situated on the positive electrode side.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-section of an air-depolarized cell in accordance with the invention
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a plan of the plate in accordance with the invention.
  • the cell illustrated in FIG. 1 has a casing made of thermoplastic material and constituted by a can 1 and a cover 2. Inside the casing, there is a central positive air-depolarized electrode essentially made of a catalytic carbon mass 3, and a zinc powder negative electrode 4 disposed against the side walls of the can 1. The annular space between the electrodes is filled by a gelled alkaline electrolyte 5 which also covers the upper part of the negative electrode.
  • a ventilation circuit for the positive electrode includes a vertical ventilation duct 6 which passes through the mass 3 and opens into a ventilation chamber 7 situated immediately below the cover 2.
  • the cover 2 has two openings 8 and 9 shown stopped by thermoplastic plugs 20 and 21 which must be removed to allow the cell to operate.
  • the openings 8 and 9 then make the chamber 7 communicate with the outside atmosphere. This constitutes an oxygen supply for the positive electrode.
  • An H section member 10 for promoting the flow of air in accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 3,871,920 is disposed in the duct 6.
  • a metal wire 11 wound in a helix along the duct 6 and embedded in the mass 3 constitutes a current collector for the positive electrode and is connected to the positive terminal 12.
  • the negative current collector is constituted by a metal wire 13 sunk in the electrode 4. The portion of the metal wire which passes through the cover 2 is not illustrated.
  • the free surface 14 of the electrolyte 5 is surmounted by a gas space 15 which compensates for the changes in volume due to variations in temperature and to the discharge process of the cell.
  • the space 15 is separated from the ventilation chamber 7 by means of a wall impermeable to oxygen constituted by a thermoplastic part 16 covered with a layer of pitch 17.
  • the part 16 is welded to the upper portions of the walls of the can 1, and the cover 2 is force fitted therein and may be glued thereto.
  • the lower portion of the part 16 is immersed in the electrolyte and rests against a shoulder 25 of the electrode 3.
  • a plate 18 in which there are firstly slots 19 and secondly a central hole with a rim 22 around it is force fitted on the part 16 so that its rim 22 fits closely round the portion 23 of the part 16 whose end is immersed in the electrolyte.
  • the plate 18 is illustrated as seen from above in FIG. 2. This makes it possible to see the shape and the number of slots 19.
  • the position of plate 18 on the part 16 is such that it exerts a pressure on the surface 14 of the electrolyte which must rise through the slots 19 as illustrated in FIG. 1.
  • this position is fixed by the oblique shape of the portion 23 of the part 16, whose end is immersed in the electrolyte.
  • the rims 22 are also flared to correspond exactly with the shape of the portion 23.
  • the electrolyte gel is formed by a 7 N solution of potassium hydroxide gelled by 240 to 255 grams per liter of potato starch. The gel is firmly held against the surfaces of the electrodes due to the pressure exerted by the plate 18 and, since it can no longer come off the surface of the positive electrode, prevents gas bubbles from forming even when the pressure in the space 15 is lower than the pressure in the space outside it.
  • the plate 18 can be glued to the part 16, or it even can be welded thereto by ultrasonic welding.
  • the plate 18 may be made of polystyrene or of any other sufficiently rigid thermoplastic material.
  • the plate 18 can be maintained at the required height by providing ribs on this portion which prevent the plate from rising above the required position.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • Electrochemistry (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Hybrid Cells (AREA)
US06/217,035 1980-01-16 1980-12-16 Air depolarized cell with a gelled electrolyte Expired - Fee Related US4303743A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8000901 1980-01-16
FR8000901A FR2473794A1 (fr) 1980-01-16 1980-01-16 Pile a depolarisation par l'air a electrolyte gelifie

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US4303743A true US4303743A (en) 1981-12-01

Family

ID=9237588

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US06/217,035 Expired - Fee Related US4303743A (en) 1980-01-16 1980-12-16 Air depolarized cell with a gelled electrolyte

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US4303743A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS56106378A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CA (1) CA1150765A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE3100412A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2473794A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB2067825B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5114806A (en) * 1991-03-19 1992-05-19 Chiacchio Frank J Perforated retainer for horizontal mount gelled-electrolyte cells
US5328778A (en) * 1991-12-16 1994-07-12 Matsi, Inc. Metal-air cells comprising collapsible foam members and means for minimizing internal pressure buildup
US5389457A (en) * 1993-08-09 1995-02-14 Eveready Battery Company, Inc. Gas filled collapsible member within anode to accommodate expansion of anode
US5458988A (en) * 1993-08-10 1995-10-17 Matsi, Inc. Metal-air-cells having improved anode assemblies
US6274261B1 (en) 1998-12-18 2001-08-14 Aer Energy Resources, Inc. Cylindrical metal-air battery with a cylindrical peripheral air cathode
US6436564B1 (en) * 1998-12-18 2002-08-20 Aer Energy Resources, Inc. Air mover for a battery utilizing a variable volume enclosure
US6475658B1 (en) 1998-12-18 2002-11-05 Aer Energy Resources, Inc. Air manager systems for batteries utilizing a diaphragm or bellows
US20040038120A1 (en) * 2002-05-31 2004-02-26 Tsepin Tsai Metal air cell incorporating easily refuelable electrodes
US20130143133A1 (en) * 2010-05-28 2013-06-06 The University Court Of The University Of St. Andrews Cathode catalyst for rechargeable metal-air battery and rechargeable metal-air battery

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU3327500A (en) * 2000-03-24 2001-10-03 Niichiro Hasegawa Thermoelectric generator

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR754802A (fr) 1933-05-05 1933-11-14 Le Carbone Sa Piles à liquide immobilisé à dépolarisation par l'oxygène de l'air
LU65821A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-08-05 1973-01-31
US3840406A (en) * 1971-06-30 1974-10-08 Accumulateurs Fixes Alkaline cell with gelled electrolyte and rupturable means
US3871920A (en) * 1972-08-25 1975-03-18 Accumulateurs Fixes Air depolarized cell
US3928072A (en) * 1973-08-01 1975-12-23 Accumulateurs Fixes Air depolarized electric cell
US4009320A (en) * 1975-03-11 1977-02-22 Saft-Societe Des Accumulateurs Fixes Et De Traction Air depolarization cell or battery
FR2251109B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-11-14 1977-09-09 Accumulateurs Fixes
DE2345473C3 (de) 1973-09-08 1979-05-03 Saft-Societe Des Accumulateurs Fixes Et De Traction S.A., Romainville, Seine-Saint-Denis (Frankreich) Sauerstoffelektrode aus hydrophobierter Aktivkohle für alkalische galvanische Elemente
US4214044A (en) * 1977-04-14 1980-07-22 Compagnie Industrielle Des Piles Electriques "Cipel" Air-depolarized cell

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR754802A (fr) 1933-05-05 1933-11-14 Le Carbone Sa Piles à liquide immobilisé à dépolarisation par l'oxygène de l'air
US3840406A (en) * 1971-06-30 1974-10-08 Accumulateurs Fixes Alkaline cell with gelled electrolyte and rupturable means
LU65821A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-08-05 1973-01-31
US3871920A (en) * 1972-08-25 1975-03-18 Accumulateurs Fixes Air depolarized cell
US3928072A (en) * 1973-08-01 1975-12-23 Accumulateurs Fixes Air depolarized electric cell
DE2345473C3 (de) 1973-09-08 1979-05-03 Saft-Societe Des Accumulateurs Fixes Et De Traction S.A., Romainville, Seine-Saint-Denis (Frankreich) Sauerstoffelektrode aus hydrophobierter Aktivkohle für alkalische galvanische Elemente
FR2251109B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-11-14 1977-09-09 Accumulateurs Fixes
US4009320A (en) * 1975-03-11 1977-02-22 Saft-Societe Des Accumulateurs Fixes Et De Traction Air depolarization cell or battery
US4214044A (en) * 1977-04-14 1980-07-22 Compagnie Industrielle Des Piles Electriques "Cipel" Air-depolarized cell

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5114806A (en) * 1991-03-19 1992-05-19 Chiacchio Frank J Perforated retainer for horizontal mount gelled-electrolyte cells
US5328778A (en) * 1991-12-16 1994-07-12 Matsi, Inc. Metal-air cells comprising collapsible foam members and means for minimizing internal pressure buildup
US5389457A (en) * 1993-08-09 1995-02-14 Eveready Battery Company, Inc. Gas filled collapsible member within anode to accommodate expansion of anode
US5510204A (en) * 1993-08-09 1996-04-23 Eveready Battery Company, Inc. Galvanic cell with an anode electrode that extends up to at least 80 perent of the height of the cathode electrode
US5458988A (en) * 1993-08-10 1995-10-17 Matsi, Inc. Metal-air-cells having improved anode assemblies
US6274261B1 (en) 1998-12-18 2001-08-14 Aer Energy Resources, Inc. Cylindrical metal-air battery with a cylindrical peripheral air cathode
US6436564B1 (en) * 1998-12-18 2002-08-20 Aer Energy Resources, Inc. Air mover for a battery utilizing a variable volume enclosure
US6475658B1 (en) 1998-12-18 2002-11-05 Aer Energy Resources, Inc. Air manager systems for batteries utilizing a diaphragm or bellows
US20040038120A1 (en) * 2002-05-31 2004-02-26 Tsepin Tsai Metal air cell incorporating easily refuelable electrodes
US20130143133A1 (en) * 2010-05-28 2013-06-06 The University Court Of The University Of St. Andrews Cathode catalyst for rechargeable metal-air battery and rechargeable metal-air battery

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS56106378A (en) 1981-08-24
FR2473794A1 (fr) 1981-07-17
FR2473794B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1981-12-11
CA1150765A (fr) 1983-07-26
GB2067825B (en) 1983-01-26
GB2067825A (en) 1981-07-30
DE3100412A1 (de) 1982-07-15

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